Description

At long last, everyone in the world (ok everyone who has access to a 3d printer) can have their own bust of America's greatest entertainer and statesman, Stephen Colbert.

Even better, you can use this model and your favorite 3d modeling software to add Mr. Colbert's face to objects which were formerly lacking in Colbert heads, like bannisters, umbrella handles, toothpaste squeezers, and rabbits. (To name a few.)

Who? never heard of the man! I am so glad I went with a Mendel I can hold my head high and say I have nothing to do with Makerbot, you've turned thingiverse into a commercial for your own purposes. Well done, but ultimately you will reap what you sow. Sorry had to say this, your ego will ultimately be the death of thingyverse.

How do you think Richard Branson and Steve Jobs built their businesses from scratch and became mega successful ? It's because they have incredible marketing skills and know how to use the media to their advantage... and yes, they both have big egos.

MBI is not per
fect by any means, but in order to survive and expand their business they absolutely need to maximize every opportunity to publicize their products, especially using TV appearances and creating a compelling website such as Thingiverse. I don't know Bre personally, but I think he's doing a fantastic
job getting MBI into the media, NY Times, on Colbert, etc. and is rightfully very proud
of it.

SparkySD, you obviously didn't read all my posts, your rant is misplaced. In Summary; I think in the long term, Thingiverse is bigger than MBI's printer devision by a big factor and was pointing out that these kind of 'open' sites succeed where there is no obvious self interest.

MBI is a business, and I think too many people expect saints. Adrian and Vik and the rest of the RepRap folk are so bright they hurt my eyes, but Bre and Zack et al are doing this for a living, and the difference is significant. Adrian's quest to change the world with his brain is inspiring, and Vik has impressed the hell out of me. They (and the other major RepRap contributors) are the closest thing to saints because they're out to Make The World Better for it's own sake.

While I can't say I agree with MBI's business practices all the time, Thingiverse is one place I think they've done it right. They built it, they pushed it, they made a place where a community could find a home and grow into a place where humor and brilliant design are both looked upon favorably.
MBI doesn't seem to be out the Make The World Better so much as make a living doing something they love. Don't forget how many RepRaps are powered by Zack's work on the electronics.

Have they earned a few pats on the back? I think so. I've seen nothing (including the Colbert Report) that leads
me to think ego is central in their universe. Bre's a pretty dynamic guy who couldn't hide his excitement about something he likes A LOT. Ultimately, if you feel so fundamentally bothered by it, don't support their business, there are others out there. Just don't get after them for BEING a busin
ess, they aren't drawing an academic salary, they have to eat.

Look, I agree that those guys are a business and need to make money but Thingiverse has the potential to be much bigger than any 3d Printer company, this is just the start, the very early days and when printers are being sold on mass thingiverse could be top of the pops. Overly servicing Makerbot leaves the door open for a neutral party to claim their space. JMO.